Mayor Adams says he 'will stay and fight' amid calls on him to resign
'For the good of the city, he should resign," Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement on Wednesday
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- Even before Wednesday night's breaking news that New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted in a federal corruption investigation according to sources familiar with the matter, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called for Adams to resign.
In a statement posted on 'X' on Wednesday, Ocasio-Cortez said, "I do not see how Mayor Adams can continue governing New York City," amid the wave of resignations and investigations into the top ranks of his administration.
"The flood of resignations and vacancies are threatening government function," she said. "Nonstop investigations will make it impossible to recruit and retain a qualified administration. For the good of the city, he should resign."
Mayor Adams then responded to Ocasio-Cortez saying, "For anyone who self-righteously claims people charged with serious crimes should not be in jail to now say that the second Black mayor of New York should resign because of rumors and innuendo -- without even a single charge being filed -- is the height of hypocrisy."
Adams added that he is "leading this city to protect it from exactly that kind of phony politics," and said that he will "stay and fight" for the people of the city "no matter what."
After learning of the indictment, State Senator John Liu also called on Adams to step down.
"The people of New York City, however, need a mayor who is able to devote full time and full energy to putting the city on the right track, including recruitment and retention of top leadership for the City. Mayor Adams is simply unable to do that for the foreseeable future and therefore, for the good of all New Yorkers, must resign immediately," Liu said.
Several members of New York City Council echoed calls for his resignation.
"New Yorkers deserve better than the chaos and corruption they are seeing in our city government. Our children, our families, our neighbors deserve better," NYC Council Member Shekar Krishnan said. "Mayor Adams has already proven himself unfit and unable to lead from City Hall. He will absolutely be unable to lead from inside a courtroom. He must resign."
ALSO WATCH | Former Mayor Bill de Blasio reacts to reports of Adams' indictment
Council Member Robert Holden said it is a sad day for the city.
"While he is presumed innocent until proven guilty, there is no way he can effectively lead with this cloud hanging over him. With the challenges our city faces, he must step down for the good of New Yorkers," he said.
Those who are running for mayor are also calling on Adams to step aside.
"The mayor needs to resign for the good of the city. His legal fight is not our fight," Scott Stringer said.
Jessica Ramos called news of the indictment "a profound betrayal."
"The mayor has a fundamental responsibility to be honest with New Yorkers. That is the first and most important part of the job. So we cannot - and should not - ignore these allegations of corruption. If convicted, it would be a grievous abuse of power and a betrayal to voters, taxpayers, and working families," she wrote in a statement.
New York City Comptroller Brad Lander also released a statement saying calling for Adams to step down.
"Trust in public institutions - especially City Hall - is essential for our local democracy to function and for our city to flourish. The hardworking people of New York City deserve a city government and leadership they can trust. Right now, they don't have it," Lander said. "The most appropriate path forward is for him to step down so that New York City can get the full focus its leadership demands."
Adams is the first mayor in New York City history to be indicted while in office. If he were to resign, he would be replaced by the city's public advocate, Jumaane Williams, who would then schedule a special election.
A spokesman for Jumaane Williams released a statement saying, "The news of this indictment is itself incredibly serious. As the facts emerge, the Public Advocate will have more to say to the people of New York City, as of right now, he is focused on how best to ensure that New Yorkers can regain trust, confidence and stability in city government."
Gov. Kathy Hochul has the power to remove Adams from office. Hochul's office did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday night.
Earlier Wednesday, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams continued to throw her support behind the mayor when she was asked by Eyewitness News if she believed he could still govern the city.
"Yes, I do, and I think that's all I want to answer on that."
Those sentiments were echoed in Washington by House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
"Mayor Adams is trying to do the best that he can in one of the toughest jobs in the world -- to keep the focus on meeting the needs of the residents of New York City," Jeffries said.
Mayor Adams has been under a microscope as federal investigators look into donations to his 2021 campaign.
It appears that this investigation is expanding and follows the grand jury subpoenas that were served by federal prosecutors back in July to members of his administration, including the mayor.
The mayor surrendered his own phones last November, as part of a separate federal investigation into whether his 2021 campaign received illegal donations from citizens and government officials in Turkey.
Eyewitness News has confirmed that the investigation includes not only Adams' ties to Turkey, but to Israel, Qatar, China, South Korea, and the former Soviet Republic of Uzbekistan-the only one of the six Adams has not visited.
The big question investigators are trying to answer is whether his 2021 mayoral campaign had conspired with Turkey's government to receive illegal foreign donations, and if there was pressure on the fire department to approve a new high-rise Turkish consulate despite safety concerns.
The list of departures in his administration is also growing, including the latest: New York City Schools Chancellor David Banks, who announced on Tuesday that he would retire at the end of the calendar year.
Banks officially named Melissa Ramos as the next New York City schools chancellor on Wednesday, and insisted he was retiring, not resigning.
"First of all, after 40 years, I'm tired," he said.
Banks was embraced by his fiancée, First Deputy Mayor Sheena Wright, which is believed to be their first public appearance together since the FBI seized their cellphones and laptops exactly three weeks ago on Wednesday.
Banks is now the fourth administration official to offer his resignation this month. Health Commissioner Ashwin Vasan announced that he, like Banks, will leave at the end of the year. Police Commissioner Edward Caban resigned after his phones were seized, and Lisa Zornberg, the mayor's chief counsel, abruptly quit after sources say her legal advice was ignored.
The scope of the investigations is unprecedented in the recent history of City Hall. It's broadly focused on the NYPD's nightlife enforcement practices and influence peddling in awarding city contracts. The FBI has also seized the electronics belonging to David Banks' brother, Deputy Mayor Phil Banks and a third Banks brother, private consultant Terence Banks as well as top Adams adviser Timothy Pearson.
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